ECA Review - 2024-04-18

4 A pril 18'24 HANNA/CORONATION/STETTLER, AB. ECA REVIEW
SLAP
Shots
• Retired NFL great
J.J. Watt, after the
league deemed
the hip-drop tackle
illegal: “Just fast
forward to the
belts with flags on
them…”
• And comedy
writer Alex Kaseberg
on the same
subject: “In addition
to helmetto-helmet
and
around the knees,
it is now illegal
for NFL players
to make hip-drop
tackles. At this rate
the only option for
NFL tacklers is to
give ball carriers a
stern talking to.”
• Jack Finarelli,
aka the sports
curmudgeon, after
discussing the
Ohtani-interpreter
gambling situation:
“The surest
way to double
your money is
to fold it in half
and put it in your
pocket.”
• Comedy writer
Alex Kaseberg: “In
Texas, former NFL
QB, Vince Young,
was knocked out
cold in a bar fight.
Young was hit so
hard, when he
came to he said he
wanted to make
a comeback with
the Washington
Commanders.”
• Super 70s
Sports: “Tony
Gwynn could’ve
gone 0-for-1,199
at the end of his
career and still
retired as a .300
hitter. Think about
that.”
• Janice Hough
of leftcoastsportsbabe.com:
“The
Oakland As are
reportedly talking
to Sacramento
about relocating
there for at least
three years. But
wait, doesn’t Sacramento
already
have a minor
league team?”
• Headline in
The Beaverton,
Canada’s parody
website: “NHL
player declared legally
dead before
trade deadline expects
to be ready
for playoffs.”
Run for Stanley
Cup is wide open
by Bruce Penton
Now that the 1,312-game preliminaries
are almost over, the 16 National
Hockey League playoff teams get down
to serious business. Last year’s Vegasvs.-Florida
final didn’t appear on
many experts’ radars and the likelihood
of more upsets is always real.
So who can win the Stanley Cup this
year? All 16 qualifiers, of course, but
realistically, some of the playoff teams
would need a truckload of four-leaf clovers,
a few rabbits’ feet or Mafia-style
bribery to win it all.
There are three levels of contenders:
Those who can; those who might;
those who can’t.
Those who can:
(In no particular order)
Boston Bruins didn’t miss a beat
after the retirement of superstar
centre Patrice Bergeron, and have
been at the top, or close to it, all year.
The President’s Cup jinx got to the B’s
last year, so maybe they’ll play so-so
down the stretch to
avoid finishing
first overall.
Florida Panthers:
Neck-and-neck
with Boston all
season for first in
the Eastern
Conference, the
Panthers are
playoff-tested after
last year’s run to
the final.
N.Y. Rangers:
FROM THE
BLEACHERS
Penton
Igor Shesterkin in goal and an offence
led by Artemi Panarin provide the
ingredients for a long run.
Carolina Hurricanes: The Canes
have a solid defence with Brent Burns,
Brett Pesce and Jaccob Slavin and
picked up solid playoff performer Jake
Guentzel in a trade, adding to the
scoring prowess of Sebastian Aho,
Seth Jarvis and Andrei Svechnikov.
Colorado Avalanche: Nathan
MacKinnon and Cale Makar can win
games by themselves and make the
Avs an always-dangerous team.
Dallas Stars: Solid in goal (Jake
Oettinger) and up front with eight
20-plus goal scorers, the Stars have
been battling Winnipeg and Colorado
for top spot in the Central Division all
year.
Vancouver Canucks: Coach-of-theyear
candidate Rick Tocchet has
guided the Canucks to one of their
most successful seasons ever. No
reason to think it’s going to stop any
time soon.
Edmonton Oilers: After a horrendous
5-12 start to the season, the
McDavid-Draisaitl-led Oilers have
compiled one of the best records in the
entire league.
Those who might:
Toronto Maple Leafs: The 1967-topresent
day Cup drought probably
won’t end this year, but goal-scoring
machine Auston Matthews is in his
prime, so there’s a chance.
Winnipeg Jets: Among the top teams
all season, the Jets have Connor
Hellebuyck, the best goalie in the
league and the addition of Tyler Toffoli
and Sean Monahan mesh nicely with
the Jets’ core of Scheifele, Connor,
Ehlers and Morrissey.
Nashville Predators: Defenceman
Roman Josi might be the best allround
player in the league and the
Preds were redhot
down the
stretch. Never
ignore a team
with a mountain
of momentum.
Tampa Bay —
Playoff
experience can
never be
underestimated.
Those who
won’t
Anyone battling
it out down
the stretch for a
wildcard position
— Detroit,
Washington,
Pittsburgh
Philadelphia, Los
Angeles, Las
Vegas.
(Keep in mind
that this same
pre-playoff
column last year
gave a no-chance
outlook to Florida
Panthers, who
made it all the
way to the final.)
SPORTS
The East Central Eagles home opener on Sun. April 14 in Castor, Alta. The U15 girls
played Lloydminster in a double header. Mayor Richard Elhard and Deputy Mayor Kevin
McDougal (behind) did the honours of the inaugural puck drop between Eagle’s Ella
Younger and Loydminister’s Haven Schlosser. They tied the first game 1-1 with the Eagles
goal by Jayce Miazga and assisted by Ella Younger. They lost their second game 6-2 with
Eagles goals by Ella Younger, unassisted and Emma Galletly, assisted by Ella Younger.
ECA Review/Submitted
SummerRide
This
Ride
Thank you
in
Style
CHECKER’D FLAG SPORTS
407 - 5 th St. East, Hanna, AB • 403-854-2955
www.checkerdflagsports.com
Brownfield Rec Centre would like to
Thank Adair Ranch
for the continued support from the
Pie Auction at their Annual Sale.
A BIG Thank You goes out to the
following for their generous donations:
Nevan Barnes
Rick and Anne Kendal
Derek Suter
Paul and Shari James
Maureen Black
BW Livestock
Provost Livestock
Al & Sylvia Richardson/
Alice Richardson